Haptoglobin. A potential reporter molecule for glycosylation changes in disease.

Abstract

The acute-phase protein, haptoglobin, is elevated in many diseases; however, its glycosylation also changes, and the type of change observed can vary with disease. Increased fucosylation is a common finding, and the fucose-specific lectin, lotus tetragonolobus, can be used to differentiate different diseases (eg inflammatory conditions, liver diseases), and to monitor disease activity in cancer. Changes in N-acetyl neuraminic acid and N-acetylglucosamine suggest that particular carbohydrate structures predominate in certain diseases. Because haptoglobin glycosylation provides a record of previous intracellular events, it will help to improve our understanding of pathological processes and provide potential clinical markers for the future.

• Authors: G A Turner
• Journal: Advances in experimental medicine and biology (Adv Exp Med Biol) Vol. 376 Pg. 231-8 ( 1995) ISSN: 0065-2598 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8597253 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Haptoglobins
• Monosaccharides

Topics

• Acute-Phase Reaction (metabolism)
• Glycosylation
• Haptoglobins (chemistry, isolation & purification, metabolism)
• Humans
• Inflammation (blood)
• Monosaccharides (analysis)